Need to save some money? Try these 7 quick ways to save on groceries:
Mark Down Magic– Find out when your store marks down meat and produce, then stock up at lower prices. Read here for ideas to use over-ripe fruit.
Crockpot Night- Cheaper cuts of meat become delicious meals in the slow cooker and you don’t heat up the kitchen! Check out these 5 Easy Crockpot Meals.
Peruse the Pantry– Check the pantry and freezer for items you haven’t used in a while and get creative. Check my RECIPE page or my Meal Ideas page to help you get started. This week we had canned veggies, canned tomatoes and left over roast so we made Beef and Veggie Soup (recipe here).
Make A Menu- Listing your meals for the week before you shop can keep you from purchasing items “just in case” you need them. If making an entire menu is too daunting, plan dinners for Monday through Thursday nights when you’re in a rush and plan for leftovers on Friday. Find a Menu Planning Form here.
Drink Water- Skip the sodas and specialty drinks this week and enjoy water with a splash of lime or lemon.
Breakfast for Dinner– Breakfast foods like eggs, bacon and pancakes are generally cheaper than “normal” dinner foods. Light some candles and serve a fun breakfast buffet that you don’t have time for most mornings.
Think Ahead– Pack sandwiches and snacks for nights you normally do fast food (sports, meetings, etc.). Don’t forget the water bottles!
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I know this is an old post, but I am reading over this whole series for the first time… For anyone else doing the same, my biggest money saving tip for groceries is buying generic. Many of the generic products are the exact same thing as the name brand, literally produced in the same place, just packaged differently. There are some things I just can’t ‘do’ but I save a ton on a lot of the basics. And I can save even more if I go to a discount grocery store AND buy generic. For instance, I will go to Bottom Dollar to buy the Hannaford brand rising crust pizza. It’s $4.00 there, which is $1.00+ less than the Giant brand pizza and at least $6.00 less than ordering one.
Another idea to save on groceries is to keep your cupboards tidy. Why? I can’t tell you how many times we have repurchased items we already had two or three of because the pantry was a mess. Frustrating!
Great idea Sarah–thanks!
My sister recently began buying less canned pop (only gets it for her husbands lunches) and keeps an eye out for $1 sales on 2 liters. She then takes 2 liters and cups with her for her grocery day to use for drinks while gone for the day. Or she’ll break one out for dinner time. Def a cheaper way to have a fun drink.